Save a life without worry

Consider defibrillators, bipartisanship, shovels and alligators

In the Ozarks, folks like to use plain common sense to deal with issues - as we note in this regular editorial feature on "common sense" solutions.

If you are having cardiac arrest and someone rushes over to help you with a defibrillator - give them a great big thank you, not a lawsuit. One Missouri lawmaker has introduced a bill that would expand immunity from suit to volunteers and others not currently specifically listed in the law. The legislature should pass the bill, but it seems crazy for anyone to even consider suing any "Good Samaritan" for trying to save a life. We should all be willing to step in, especially if an automatic external defibrillator is available, and the recipient shouldn't be able to sue anyone for doing so. It's just common sense.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress have been working together to pass a budget and to fix Medicare payments. That might sound sensible, but it has been too many years since any bipartisan efforts have been made in Washington, D.C. We haven't even had a national budget in more than four years because of partisan bickering. The country may actually be able to move ahead, fix our problems, find new solutions and work as a single nation instead of fighting factions. It ought to happen because ... it's just common sense.

With nearly a foot of snow already fallen in the Ozarks, and more expected this weekend, getting around can be tough. We demand that the state, county and city plow roads so we can drive our vehicles. But walking can be even more of a problem. After you complain that the city/county/state hasn't plowed the road you drive, look outside your window. Have you shoveled your sidewalk? Your neighbors would really appreciate it. And, it's just common sense.

American alligators are native to the southeast states. That's because their natural habitat is the wetlands, and they thrive in warm climates. That is also why Iowa is a lousy place to raise an alligator. Alligators also grow to be about 6 feet long and prefer to eat such things as turtles and muskrat, but have been known to dine on deer and even black bears. That is why your home is a really bad place to raise an alligator. Yet, an Iowan with apparently little knowledge of the anatomy and feeding habits of the American alligator decided to do just that. Now, the poor guy, lovingly known as Chompey for his tendency to snap, is stuck in quarantine while a herpetologist in Des Moines looks for an alligator sanctuary in - you guessed it - a southeast state. If you love alligators, visit a zoo or travel to Florida. It's just common sense.

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Save a life without worry

In the Ozarks, folks like to use plain common sense to deal with issues ? as we note in this regular editorial feature on 'common sense' solutions.